John Olson was born in Cambridge, Minn., and resides in Tulsa, Okla. He received a bachelor's degree from Northeastern State University and a master's degree and a law degree from the University of Tulsa.

A former U.S. Army drill sergeant, Olson served 15 years in the U.S. Army and is a combat veteran who was deployed to Afghanistan.

He currently owns and operates a small human resources consulting company.

Olson and his wife, Zsannette, have six children.

John Olson is a political newcomer who faced no opposition in the June 2012 Democratic primary for Oklahoma's 1st Congressional District seat.

He will face Republican Jim Bridenstine and independent Craig Allen in the November general election.

The seat has been in Republican hands since 1986; the last Democrat to hold it was James Jones, who was first elected in 1972.

Olson favors a balanced budget and believes there must be significant tax reform to take the burden off the middle class and to close loopholes that apply to large corporations.

He supports increased investment in education and is opposed to vouchers and other privatization plans that take funding away from public schools. He says the No Child Left Behind education law is failing because it is not properly funded.

Olson stands by the 2nd Amendment and the right of Americans to defend themselves, their families and their property.